It cost me around $1500 to paint my starlet. i got a guy to primer it and do the insides of the doors etc the actual colour in the shed ($200 aprox for primer and hardner and $200 for his labour + clearcoats an other stuff) the paint, holden hot house green was $350 off trademe for 4 litres. I took it to the local spraypainters who are well knowen for being very expensive. thats where the rest of the money went along with sandpaper and masking tape. Preping your car is the biggest thing you have to worry about. it took me months to get mine ready and the longer you take sanding and straigning the better the finish will be. So set aside a few months and a grand at least because things often take longer and are more expensive than first expected.
rust around the petrol cap is very normal (especially on celicas

) i would sand it back and treat it right away and search through every nook an cranny looking for any more rust. if a panal has quite a bit of rust in it get it repared or replaced before painting obviously. go around to the local spray painters and get some quotes. its also good to know somone in the trade
